WASHINGTON, April 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), a Senior Member on the House Appropriations Committee released the following statement on the departure of Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius:

"Secretary Sebelius has done an extraordinary job in her role leading the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over the past five years. Healthcare reform has been 100 years in the making, and she has accomplished—together with President Obama—what a century of predecessors had not realized. From expanding CHIP to provide 11 million children with coverage, to overseeing reform efforts that have eliminated barriers to healthcare for 129 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, and enrolling 7.5 million individuals in healthcare plans over the last six months, she has been a tremendous asset to this Administration.

"Secretary Sebelius' legacy will be defined by the fact that affordable, quality healthcare is now accessible to every American, not by a botched website rollout.

"I have every confidence that her leadership, vision, and commitment to public service will not end here. America is a stronger, healthier country because of her efforts at HHS and as Governor of Kansas, and I wish her all the best as she transitions to her next chapter."